Internal-combustion engine



Patented Aug. 12, 1924e UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLETT J,- LA TOURBIETTE, OF DENVER, COLORALD()d lNTERNAL-GOMBUSTIONENGINE.

Application tiled october 2, 1923. Serial No. 666,058..

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appert-ains to make and. use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters ofreference marked thereon,vwhich form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines ofthe type known as four cycle engines. A

Those who are `skilled in this art are aware that the internalcombustion engines of the type under consideration have severalobjectionable features which reduce their etliciency` and tend to makethem noisy in operation. Among the objectionable features may bementioned that at the end of the exhaust stroke, the clearance space isleft filled with gaseous roducts of combustion'which become mixe withthe new charge and merely take up valuable space; that the reciprocatingparts are not cushioned except on the compressionv stroke which causesunnecessary strains toybe imposed on the bearings twice each revolution;that the present construction permits an undue amount' of oil to enterthe combusion chamber with the result that an excessive amount of oil isused and a large amount of objectionable carbon is formed; that theexplosive mixture must be taken into the combustion chamber excessivelyrich inl order to obtain sufficiently rapid combustion, thereby reducingthe economy of operation and then a small percentage of unconsumed fuelworks past the piston into the crank casing and is lost.

It is the object of this invention to produce an engine in which theabove-referred to objectionable features will not be present.

My invention, briefly described, embodies a construction in which eachcylinder has two spaced pistons connected by a rigid member which passesthrough a partition that divides the space between the pistons into twochambers. Means are provided for admitting airinto these chambers whichwill be compressed and serve to cushion the reciprocating parts at theend of each stroke.

Means is also provided for admitting the air that was employed tocushion the inward or downward stroke into the explosion chamber,thereby replacing the inert gases with air.

The invention can be most clearly explained by making reference to theaccom-v panying drawingin which one embodiment of my invention is shown,and in which the single figure shows a vertical transverse sectionpassing diametrically through one of the cylinders.

Numeral 1 designates one of the cylinders of which there may be anynumber. The cylinder is divided into an upper or explosion chamber A anda lower compression chamber B by means of a partition 2 that is held inplace by suitable bolts 3. The lower portion of chamber A is surroundedby an annular chamber C which communicates with it through a pluralityof ports 4.r

A water jacket D surrounds the upper portion of chamber A.` A cylinderhead 5 fits on top of the cylinder and has the usual spark plug 6.Intake and exhaust valves 7 and 8, respectively, correspond to theordinary intake and exhaust valves and are operated from the cam shaft 9through the medium of any standard mechanism. A crank shaft is rotatablymounted in the crank casing 10 and the crank pin 11 is connected bymeans of a connecting rod 12 with the `wrist pin 13 of piston 14. Piston14 reciprocates in chamber B and is connected lby means of a rod 15 withthe working piston 16 that is mounted for reciprocation in chamber A.The length of rod 15 is such that when the crank pin is at the lowerdead center position, piston 16 will approach very close to the uppersurfaceof the partition 2. When piston 16 is in its lowermost position,its upper edge will be a short distance below the upper edges of ports 4so thatpassageways connect chamber C with chamber A. A port 17 connectschamber B with the outside atmosphere. The location of port 17 isdetermined by the amount of compression that is desired on the upwardstroke of piston 14. The farther the port 17 is from the partition 2 thegreater will be the volume of air that will be entrapped and -compressedon each upward stroke and the greater will be the cushioning effectobtained. Chamber C is connected with the atmosphere through apassageway 18 which is controlled by a valve 19 that opens inwardly thediminished pressure in chamber C below piston 16 during the upwardstroke will draw lubricating oil through the passages 24 and 25 andspray the same on the cylinder walls.V

Cir

moved in an upward direction.

extent, pre-ignition. "2, besides its other function, prevents an ex-Ainto-.the crank casing. v`pass intol they space below pistonV 16 willbe mixed lwith' the air in chamber C and revcrank shaft is then rotatedin a clockwise direction. The pistons 14 and 16 will be Let us furtherassume that this is the exhaust stroke and that therefore exhaust valve8 is open.

. During every up stroke of the pistons, valve 19 lis held in openposition by means of cams 21'. As piston 14 passes the port 17 the airabove the piston will be compressed, which will serve to cushion theparts and to assist in bringiiig'the parts to a stop. On the downwardstroke, which will be the intake stroke, valve 8 will be closed andintake valve/7 will be open. The valve 19 will always be in closedposition during the downward l*movement of the pistons. As the pistonsmove downwardly the compressed air above piston 14 will expand andassist in accelerating the parts and at the same timefthe air belowpiston 16 will be compressed. When piston 16 has traveled downwardly tosuch a distance that its upper edge will uncover the ports 4, air fromchamber C will rush into the chamber A and mix with the explosivecharge. The second npstroke compresses the charge and on the seconddownstroke the charge is exploded and delivers its power.` When thepistons reachI their lowermost position on the power stroke, exhaustvalve 8 will open and permit'the gases to leave the explosion chamberand at the 'same time air from chamber C will rush into the explosionchamber and drive the gaseous products of combustion out. The `air whichis admitted into the combustion chamber A assists greatly in coolingtheparts and prevents, to a great The partition member cess of oil frompassing into chamber A and prevents any unconsumed fuel from passing Anyfuel that does turned to the combustion chamber. By manipulating theA'valve 22 the amount of air a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said 9casing; a piston recipiocally mounted in each end of said cylinder, saidpistons being connected by means of a rigid bar passing through thepartition member; a crank pin on the crank shaft; means comprising a rodfor connectingr said crank pin to the loweimost piston whereby therotation of the crank shaft will reciprocate the pistons: means foradmitting air into the space between the pistons and the partitionmember as the pistons move away from said member; means for compressingair when the pistons move towards the partition member; and means forcontrolling the amount of air that enters the space between the upperpiston and the partition member.

2. In an internal combustion engine; a` cylinder; a partition memberintermediate the end of said cylinder, said partition member having anopening; a crank casing connected to the lower end of said cylinder; acrank shaft rotatably mounted in said casing; a piston reciprocallymounted in each end of said. cylinder, said pistons being connected bymeans of a rigid bar passing through the partition member; a crank pinon the crank shaft; means comprising a rod for connecting said crank pinto the lowermost piston whereby the rotation of the crank sha-ft willreciprocate the pistons: means for admitting air into the space betweenthe pistons and the partition member as the pistons vmove away from saidmember; means for compressing air when the pistons move towards thepartition member; means for controlling the amount of air that entersthe space between the upper piston and the partition member; and meansfor permitting the air from the lower side of the upper piston to passinto the chamber above the piston when the latter is near its lowermostposition.

3. In an internal combustion engine; a cylinder; a partition memberintermediate the end of said cylinder, said partition member having anopening; a crank casing connected to the lower end of said cylinder; acrank shaft rotatably mounted in saidv casing; a piston reciprocallymounted in each end of said cylinder, said pistons lbeing connected bymeans of a rigid bar passing through the partition member; a eranlr pinon the crank shaft; means comprising a rod `for connecting said crankpin to the lowermost piston whereby the rotation of the crank shaft willreciprocate the pistons; means for admitting air into the spa-ce betweenthe pistons and the partition member as the pistons move away from saidmember; means for compressing air when the pistons move towards thepartition member; means for controlling the amount of air that entersthe space between the upper piston and the partition member; and meansfor permitting the air from the lower side of the upper piston to passinto the chamber abolve the piston when the latter is near its lowermostposition, the bar which connects the pistons beingprovided with an oilpassage extending from a` point below the lower piston to a point whichis well above the partition members when the pistons are in theiruppermost position.

4. An internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a cylinder;a partition member within said cylinder dividing the same into an upperand a lower oompartment, said partition having a central opening; apiston in each of said compa-rtments; a bar connecting said pistons andpassing through the opening in the partition; a chamber surrounding thecylinder directly above said partition member; an air inlet to saidchamber; a valve in said inlet; means for opening said valve andmaintaining it open during each upward stroke of the piston and formaintaining said valve closed during each downward stroke of thepistons, the cylinder wall between said ehamber and the piston chamberhaving a plurality of openings whose upper portions extend above theupper edge of the piston when it is in its lowermost position; and acontrol valve in said air inlet.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

W. J. LA TOURRETTE.

